Disclose all social media handles used in 5 years or risk visa ban, says US embassy in India

The statement on X read, “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.”

“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the post said.

Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and… pic.twitter.com/ZiSewKYNbt

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 26, 2025

On June 23, the US Embassy asked F, M, or J non-immigrant visa applicants to switch the privacy settings of their social media accounts to “public” to facilitate vetting, which it said was necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the US under law. F or M category is for student visas and J category for exchange visitor visa.

The embassy had also said since 2019, the US has required visa applicants to provide “social media identifiers” on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms.

In Thursday’s communication, the embassy also attached two related digital posters. “Every U.S. visa adjudication is a national security decision,” read the text on top of a poster followed by a note that read: “The United States requires visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting.”

This comes against the backdrop of an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration in Los Angeles recently.

On June 24, the embassy’s statement had said that the US had increased enforcement of immigration laws, and violators would face detention, deportation and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility.

The US further warned that those entering the country illegally would face jail time and deportation.

The US Embassy in India has issued a series of statements on the subject of visa and immigration this month.

On June 19, the embassy had said that a US visa was “a privilege, not a right” and its screening did not stop after a visa was issued as authorities might revoke it for violation of law.

The embassy had also said that using illegal drugs or breaking any of the US laws while on a student or visitor visa could make one ineligible for future US visa.

Earlier this month, the US Embassy in India also issued statements, underlining that while people travelling legally to America were welcome, illegal entry or abuse of visas won’t be tolerated by the country.

The United States will not tolerate those who facilitate illegal and mass immigration to the US, its embassy said on June 16. It has said that the US had “established new visa restrictions” targeting foreign government officials and violators.